An individual who is looking for the best house sublet may start out searching for a new home in the same way most renters do. He may, for example, look for a house to rent in a good neighborhood and at a reasonable price. He may look for a house the meets his needs physically, seeking a particular number of bedrooms or bathrooms. Often, location is major factor as well, and a person may spend time looking for a house sublet that is in convenient proximity of his job, school, public transportation, or highways.

A house sublet is a unique type of rental arrangement. Usually, a person who wants to rent a home deals with the owner of the property or his agent. In the case of a house sublet, however, an individual deals with the original tenant of the rental home instead of the owner. To protect himself from legal problems and ensure that he won’t face a surprise eviction, a prospective sublettor may do well to confirm that the original renter has a legal right to sublet the home or has obtained the owner's permission. Some lease agreements prohibit subletting, so this step is critical.

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To begin his search for the best house sublet, a person may look for rental ads in his local newspaper. He may also find ads posted on library, grocery store and community center bulletin boards. Sometimes a person interested in subletting a residence will find listings on online rental databases. He may even find some databases that are designed specifically for advertising sublets instead of other types of rental arrangements. Word of mouth is also an effective method of sublet advertising, and a prospective sublettor's friends and family members may provide leads as well.

Once a person has found some possible house sublets, he’ll usually visit each property until he finds the one that best fits his criteria for physical space, rental price, and location. Though he may find a house sublet he loves, he should avoid making a rental deal based on only a verbal agreement and a handshake. In the event that something goes wrong, a verbal contract may leave the sublettor with little-to-no legal recourse. Instead, a prospective sublettor should insist on a written agreement that details the term of the rental, the amount he must pay, to whom he’ll make payments, and exactly what he is responsible for in the way of maintenance and repairs. Getting the contract notarized may prove helpful as well.

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